Seasonal Flu in Maricopa County

Unlike the common cold, seasonal influenza (“flu”) is a serious respiratory illness that can be life-threatening.

Symptoms of seasonal influenza include: Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, can occur, but they are more common in children than in adults. (There is actually no such thing as “stomach flu.” What people refer to as stomach flu is usually viral gastroenteritis.)

Risk Factors

In some people, the flu can cause serious complications, including bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children and adults may develop sinus problems and ear infections.

How Flu Spreads

The flu usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. People occasionally may become infected by touching something with influenza virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

Healthy adults may be able to infect others 1 day before getting symptoms and up to 5 days after getting sick. Therefore, it is possible to give someone the flu before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick.

Seasonal Flu vs. Pandemic Flu

Seasonal flu is a common illness that occurs every year, usually in the winter. Healthy people usually aren't at risk from complications of seasonal flu, but young children, elderly people, and people with weak immune systems may develop complications. About 36,000 people die each year of complications associated with seasonal flu. Vaccines to protect people from seasonal flu are developed each year, and the illness usually has a manageable impact on society. Health systems, such as doctor's offices, urgent care centers, emergency rooms, and hospitals, can usually meet patients' needs in the case of seasonal flu.

On the other hand, pandemic flu occurs rarely. There were three outbreaks of pandemic flu in the 20th century, and the last outbreak occurred in 1968. In the case of a pandemic flu outbreak, even healthy people are at risk of developing complications. The number of deaths from a pandemic can be very high; in 1918, a pandemic caused 675,000 deaths in the United States. Unlike seasonal flu, a vaccine to protect from pandemic flu would likely be unavailable or in limited supply, and a pandemic would have a major impact on society. For example, travel may be restricted, schools and businesses may close, and large gatherings might be cancelled in the event of a pandemic. Health systems may be overwhelmed by the high volume of patients in a pandemic.